Factory Lines: Parker vs. Wiggins, Indians Disappoint & More
Jan 27, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jabari Parker (1) dunks against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. Duke won 80-65. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Back with our Factory Lines: A three-day per week assembling of Cleveland sports headlines. Factory Lines appears every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
It’s NBA Draft week, and nobody really has any idea what the Cavs are going to do with the No. 1 pick.
With Joel Embiid looking more fragile than your grandmother’s china, The Cavs are probably going to select Kansas swingman Andrew Wiggins or Duke forward Jabari Parker. Both could be superstars, but both also come with pros and cons.
This piece from ESPN Stats and Info tries to show why the Cavs should select Parker from a statistical point of view, with the Cavs being in the mindset they must win now.
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Dunking with Wolves
The Duke sensation was better in the half-court, with Parker ranking sixth among major conference players (AAC, ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12, SEC) with 16.1 half-court points per game. Wiggins averaged 13.0.
Wiggins’ killer instinct has also been questioned, and the article posts a stat that doesn’t help his case.
"“One knock on Wiggins’ game has been his lack of aggression in attacking the hoop. Parker demonstrated his offensive tenacity by attempting 94 more shots in the paint than Wiggins this past season.”"
The article doesn’t take any defensive stats into account, and that’s the knock on Parker.
Per Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto:
"“The biggest concern is Parker’s defense. He’s 6-foot-8, 241 pounds and has to be careful not to add weight. Is he quick enough to play small forward? Or would he be better off as a power forward?”"
Defense is something a lot of pundits are overlooking when it comes to the Parker/Wiggins debate. The Duke star may help you win now, but Wiggins has superstar potential and he can play NBA defense right now.
Take some time to think this through: When you get in the playoffs, you do have to stop the other team from scoring. Not many teams have an elite wing defender who can stop the opposition’s most athletic scorer.
How much are you considering Parker’s defensive flaws when it comes to the being the No. 1 pick?
• The Cleveland Indians are constantly knocked for having poor attendance, but that changed this weekend. The team is in contention and the club inducted fan favorite Omar Vizquel into its Hall of Fame.
The Tribe welcomed 100,000 fans into Progressive Field for the three-game weekend series, only to be swept by the Motor City Kitties.
The Indians have now dropped eight games to division opponents, but you can try and cheer up by reading this great piece from The News-Herald’s Jim Ingraham on Vizquel’s time in Cleveland.
Now Omar’s in the Tribe Hall of Fame, what do you think his chances are of making the Baseball Hall of Fame?
• The Cleveland Browns made a little news this weekend by signing offensive lineman Joel Bitonio. First-round pick Justin Gilbert is the draftee unsigned.
On other fronts, it’s becoming interesting nothing has happened with Josh Gordon. The Browns were frustrated way back on June 11 when no news had been delivered on his looming suspension. Imagine how Mike Pettine and company feel with Training Camp getting closer.
And no, there are no Johnny Manziel Instagram photo’s to comment on…yet.
• The Ohio State football program made some waves last week by landing some major recruits to its 2015 class.
Urban Meyer and company scored another big victory Sunday by getting a verbal commitment from Kevin Feder, a New Jersey native who really had no connection to the university until Thursday, when he showed up to Buckeye camp. He was offered the next day, according to Bob Baptist of The Columbus Dispatch.
Feder is listed at 6-9, 305 pounds, and had previously committed to Miami (Fla.), and as Baptist reports, the hulking high-schooler is still new to the offensive line.
Meyer is still at work, and will look to add more top prospects. Here’s a list to the Buckeyes’ remaining targets, via Land Grant Holy Land.